Heads up! The big Garmin annual spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8 (first sale to date!), $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965 at $499, the Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products including inReach Mini 2. Plus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium is on sale, and some Suunto & Wahoo product deals too. Full list & thoughts here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
Here’s how to save!
Wanna save some cash and support the site? These companies help support the site! With Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with either the coupon code DCRAINMAKER for first time users saving 15% on applicable products.
You can also pick-up tons of gear at REI via these links, which is a long-time supporter as well:
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You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
1
In Depth Product Reviews
You probably stumbled upon here looking for a review of a sports gadget. If you’re trying to decide which unit to buy – check out my in-depth reviews section. Some reviews are over 60 pages long when printed out, with hundreds of photos! I aim to leave no stone unturned.
2
Read My Sports Gadget Recommendations.
Here’s my most recent GPS watch guide here, and cycling GPS computers here. Plus there are smart trainers here, all in these guides cover almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day-to-day? I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
3
Have some fun in the travel section.
I travel a fair bit, both for work and for fun. Here’s a bunch of random trip reports and daily trip-logs that I’ve put together and posted. I’ve sorted it all by world geography, in an attempt to make it easy to figure out where I’ve been.
4
My Photography Gear: The Cameras/Drones/Action Cams I Use Daily
The most common question I receive outside of the “what’s the best GPS watch for me” variant, are photography-esq based. So in efforts to combat the amount of emails I need to sort through on a daily basis, I’ve complied this “My Photography Gear” post for your curious minds (including drones & action cams!)! It’s a nice break from the day-to-day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
5
The Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
Many readers stumble into my website in search of information on the latest and greatest sports tech products. But at the end of the day, you might just be wondering “What does Ray use when not testing new products?”. So here is the most up to date list of products I like and fit the bill for me and my training needs best! DC Rainmaker 2024 swim, bike, run, and general gear list. But wait, are you a female and feel like these things might not apply to you? If that’s the case (but certainly not saying my choices aren’t good for women), and you just want to see a different gear junkies “picks”, check out The Girl’s Gear Guide too.
My next race is the half marthon the biggest loser in charlston wv in June with my 13 year old son it’s his first race so I hope we finish it.
Next week I will participate in the triathlon in Weert (The Netherlands). I am starting on the quarter distance but I am hoping to start on the Dutch Championchip OD for which I am 2nd on the waiting list
Next race is Jukola. A seven stage orienteering relay taking place over night in Finland. Exams first but hope to beat or teams playing from last year.
One week ago my 2nd half IM in Busselton Western Australia. Wanted to beat my first time but had a less than ideal run up! PB by 6mins 04:51!
Would like to run a marathon this year if I can fix my ankle ET 03:30?
So, next race? At this Sunday 2nd stage of SEB MTB marathon. SEB mounting bike marathon is the largest MTB competition in Latvia. During all summer are planned 7 stages and usually there are 1500-2000 riders. There are 3 categories – Sport (60-70km distance), Folk (40-50km) and Family (20-30km).
My target is to be in the TOP 800 in Folk category ;) http://www.velo.lv (unfortunately page is only in Latvian)
And on 18th of May I’m planning to run my first half marathon at Nordea Riga Marathon (NRM). NRM is one of largest marathon’s in Northern Europe. Last year finished more than 15’000 runners (42km, 21km, 10km and 5km). Target? Finished 2:00-2:15h. http://www.nordearigasmaratons.lv
So, welcome to Latvia next year, Ray!
Next race (well technically a sportiv) is the Mick Byrne Randonee in Dublin. 160km around the most gruelling climbs in Wicklow. Goal is to finish it alive.
I’m considering entering the 24-hour True Grit obstacle course race near Sydney in August. My goal would be to finish without any significant down-time.
Edinburgh crit series on Thursday night, first ever race so goal will be just to take part and enjoy the experience. Completed my first sportive on Sunday, finished 254th out of 1200 so still on a high and looking to keep the buzz going.
Blenheim Palace Triathlon……> 1:09.
(It’s a sprint!)
Well, i broke my ankle a few weeks ago so have canceled any and all thoughts of upcoming races. My last race was a 10k – I was a volunteer escort with a blind runner and we finished with a PR for him!
My goal is this year is the Dutch Championship half distance. It will be my first half triathlon ever. As a below knee amputee I want to show people to never give up and follow you’re own dreams. Set realistic goals and push further beyond them.
Sport for live! KR, Reitze
In about 5 weeks I’m doing a half-marathon, hoping to be considered a ‘serious runner’ after it, with a time of 1:45:00 or lower :)
Vendome Triathlon, 25 may (~ 70.3). Plan to finish in the Top 50
Ray, You are awesome just sharing your non-stop travels. Let alone these wonderful giveaways..
Next on the calendar. 70.3 Taiwan…
Cheers,
Ken
Grab Fondo NY May 18 100 miles
Air Force Half Matathon in September and MCM in October.
The previous race was 5 km in Athens and the goal was 24 minutes. My next goal is 23 minutes.
Salty Dog Sprint Tri in June. Raced it sick last year and it was messy… Soooo, redemption? :)
Welland 70.3 looking for a podium
Next race is on Mothers Day, so my wife will have to do logistics again. It’s a 1500 open water swim part of a triathlon series here in Singapore. Best bit: my 8 yo daughter will do her 200 meters just after I finish. And when she is done her little sister will do the 200 meters with me, but she “doesn’t want to do a race!”.
I will ride the Granfondo in the beautiful region of Gerês, in Portugal.
Fifteen hundred participants, hopefully I will finish inside the top-100. :)
Next race i’m aiming for is a sprint distance race in HK.
Easy peasy stuff. hoping for a sub 1hr 15mins even after a few weeks of no training due to exams
I managed to PB my half marathon time in the Two Oceans HM, Cape Town
My very next race is a sprint put on by the local tri club. You swim one pool, jump out, run to the next pool, repeat, then a pretty standard, if short, bike then run. My goal is to go out harder than normal on the bike and then run my legs off. I think I’ve been too conservative in the past and these local races are a great way to test that out.
Saturday, Thionville, 2.3.J cat.. Top 15. Merci
I have the Sydney half marathon on the 18th of may with a target of under 1h20.
Next race is the big race > first ironman in copenhag, august 24… will be nice if I finish under 11,5 hours…
Half Rev Quassy on June 1st! I just hope to finish standing up :)
My next big race will be Castle Howard Half iron distance first time going this long very scared but if it was easy it would not be worth doing. I just want to finish!
City to Casino in Hobart, Tasmania. Just 11k. Goal is to better my time from last year… Hoping for under 45mins :)
Tomorrow, May 10th, Biella Half Marathon, I hope less than 1:40.
Ciao
Goal is to run/finish a half marathon after the awesome 10km in rotterdam I had this year.
IRONMAN AUSTRIA – 29th of June
My goal is to survive and become an Ironman :)
Startskottet a 10k in Kristianstad Sweden in the End of May.
Another half-marathon in September in Karlsruhe, Germany.
In July mine first half triathlon in Didam
My first ultramarathon, Cadi Ultra Trail. If I finish that will be enough reward
32mile strathyrie race long trail run after shoulder surgery
Its not technically a race but I am signing up for the Belfast – Dublin – Belfast Maracycle on June 28th/29th. My intent is merely to finish it. 220 miles in 2 days when my longest ride previously is 80 miles. It’s obvioulsy the second day that scares me most!! But today is the start of the Giro d’Italia which I get to watch the Team Time Trial in Belfast …. Yipee!!!!!!
Moscow HalfMarathon, May 18th.
Plan is to beat my 1:51 PR.
Byron Bay Olympic, NSW Australia. Looking for a decent finish on tired legs after completing Ironman Australia 6 days ago.
Next race is a Double ironman, 31st May/1st June. I attempted it last year but pulled out after 20 miles of running. This year I have a support crew and would like to finish in 28 hours.
My next race, and first this season, is the Dig Deep Intro Ultra in June. I think I’ll just be happy to finish!
Moonlight Half Marathon on 24th May, Jesolo, Italy—-> 1:49:00
or for Triathlon an Olimpic in Bardolino, 14th June—–> under 3 hours, or they “deflate” the finish line
While generally participating in sportives, I first sensed the real race atmosphere and adrenaline at the Guido Belcanto Classic, a 57 km cycling race “to cherish, rather than to win” (their baseline), climbing one of the Flemish hills 7 times. Looking forward to a next edition. While there is no official race result, I hope to do considerable better than the last edition
Did Reading HM, got London to Brighton next month, Basingstoke HM, great south run & nelsons tour de test valley! Hoping to beat last years time for Basingstoke & nelsons.
Tely 10, St. John’s, Nl. July , aiming to break 80 mins.
Next race will be a sprint triathlon in Utrecht on 13 july. Hope to race under 1:15.
Brussels marathon, october, objective is to finish !
Tomorrow (5/10) I’m doing the Chisholm Trail Run & Ride. It’s a 5k followed by a 33 mile bike ride. My goal…. to finish!! Have never done two events.
No races planned for this year yet. The last one I entered was a crit in which I got dropped within 3 corners and couldn’t get back to the group in a huge headwind! I’m hoping any I enter this year go better!!
Hi Ray,
My next race will be the trail marathon wales at the end of June, first marathon. Going to be great. Target is any time under 5hrs.
My last official race was the Barcelona Marathon, my very first 42195m in a single shot.
I suffered like hell in the last 10km due to unusual heat (being 16th March) combined with illiotibial band pains in my right knee, but I managed to get to the finish line in one piece in 4h 17m.
I show with proud my black toenails since then.
Gold Coast Airport Marathon on 06 July.Aiming for a sub 3:30 with it fast course.
5/31/14 Toughman 70.3 Indiana. Finish in the top 10% and practice nutrition and pacing for IMLP.
I’ll be running the SMH half marathon on May 18th. My goal is sub 1:40
My next race is in two days. Stadt-triathlon.de – a sprint Tri in the olympic park of Munich, Germany.
This race was my first Tri ever last year so this years goal is to be faster and hopefully this should be an easy task :)
Last race was a 21k for fun here at BUD, looking forward to repeat it this year in the fall. Also, I keep an eye on tri events, who knows..
75km MTB race in Luxemburg two weeks ago. Goal was to finish it in reasonable time, which I did.
Ten Penny Duathlon in Glastonbury CT May 18th!
My goal: to do better than last year :D
A 70k annual mountain bike traverse held in May or June in the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica by a group of friends.
My next race is a 50 mile ultra in Staplestown, Co. Kildare, in Ireland. It’s on the 17th of May, and a key part of the training for a much longer race later in summer, so the goal is to get through it feeling good and recover quickly.
My next race for running is a 10km race in support of giving blood in Sweden. I hope to get a PB at 45 min, but maybe thats optimistic :)
Next race for biking isnt exactly a race… We are going to bike to Paris from Lund (Sweden) to raise money for child cancer research. Last year Team Rynkeby (team-rynkeby.dk) raised 4.26 million USD (if my math is correct) which we hope to beat this year. 1200 people from 26 teams and 6 countries are participating this year :)
My next race will the 21K. The race is in two weeks time and my target time is 1 hours and 45 minutes.
Windsor Sprint Triathlon in June
My race is K2 in New Zealand this November, this will be the first race in a year as I have had 3 knee surgeries in the past 6mths and have to now ride with pain for the rest of my days as they can’t do anymore for it. It will be really tough as it has in excess of 2500 meters of climbing.
Hey I will tell you about my last race, because it was like from heaven to hell.
It was last August in Poderdorf Austria in the Olympic Triathlon on Sunday.
There was a ironman distance on Saturday witch I watched and for the highlight of the season I planed to take part at my first Olympic-distance race, I did some sprint races before.
After watching the rionman distance I was so boosted I started the swim and came out of the water at 33 place from 600 people attending, and I knew it will be a great day! The transition went good nothing interesting, I jumped on the bike and speeded up. I cam e to a roundabout after 500 meters after the transition and started to pass it. Then I heard a loud bang and my front wheel was not dooing as I wanted to, it slided away and I hit the ground hart falling on my arm. I was a bit confused and a safety-guy picked me up and carried me out of the track. (Thanks man once more if you read this) my front wheel busted as I was driving into the turn and I luxated my right shoulder. I was brought to the race doctor where he set the arm back. I was given some really good drugs so nothing hurt really much but the race was over.
All in all it was a heaven to hell day, still impressed by me swim performance but my shoulder is still aching sometimes when I attend a swim training. But this year I am back in Podersdorf, I got something to clear up with this race…
I don’t have any races scheduled at the moment but my last race was the Pittsburgh half marathon this past Sunday. It was my first race back after injury last year so no PR but I’m excited to be back running again.
My next race will be the Jukola relay, the biggest orienteering competition in the world. link to jukola.com
My next race will be Ilvesjuoksu (Lynxrun) on 17th of May in Riihimäki Finland. It is a halfmarathon trailrunning race. My goal is to enjoy the nature and atmosphere (and finish under 105min).
It will be my first race: the Bridge Run Half Marathon in October. It’s 3 days after my birthday.
Sydney city2surf. Hard work!
My run is tomorrow on Saturday 10.05.14
It’s 17km run through the forest. It’s called “Bieg Łosia” (Moose Run), because they live in that forest ;)
Hope it will ends well, because my ankle hurts a little…
Next race will probably be on June 21st, the Half Ironman in Oradea, Romania. The goal is to finish my first HIM in under 7 hours.
I’m in! Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon in October, would love to run a 3:40 (pr)!
Point to Pinnacle, Hobart Tasmania (Australia).Half marathon straight up Mt Wellington. Trying to get under 2 hours after 2:09 last year….
absolutely nothing planned. completed the Marathon des Sables last month. time to figure out what next!
My next race will be a Local 5k in Lucan, Ireland. 21:59 would be great.
My next race is Toronto’s Sporting Life 10k. It’s a downhill race and I’m looking for a PB!
next: 15k under the magical 1h limit
Rev. 3 WI Dells 70.3
Goal: finish
Franklin Half Marathon – A gentle stroll through the rilling hills of Lieper’s Fork, TN on June 7th… Goal is sub 01:25.
I just met one of my big goals of losing 60 pounds. Only a few more to go. Did a marathon last year and now I’m doing a couple of duathlons this spring. First one went pretty well in the next one is in a couple weekends. On Saturday I did a local neighborhood 5k. I got eighth overall and first place in my age group. Feels good to change my overall fitness level so I’ll be around longer for my five kids.
Guelph Lake Olympic Tri in June. Goal is 2:45.
My next race is Buenos Aires half marathon
Last Triathlon was ages ago in 2005, German championships after I had a serious crash while cycling in the Rockies of eastern Washington state. Didn’t go well and I haven’t done any triathlon since then, but am planning on racing an olympic distance this summer (August/September). Plus the Karlsruhe Half-Marathon on 21/09 this year.
Just raced in the Mallorca Olympic triathlon set in Colonia de Sant Jordi. I managed a personal best of 2:47 (not great but I’m getting there!). The race was won by British Olympian Will Clarke who smashed it in 1:40
Seattle half marathon
I am Racing gulf coast triathlon in Panama City beach, fl. Goal is to finish under 5 hours.
My next race is a trail ultramarathon 58 km. My goal is to finish in one piece :)
Cotswold Classic (31/8/2014)…113km in the UK
My aim, to get around and finish…a new challenge after loosing some weight and starting a Tri Club over the past two years (www.storudtri.co.uk)
My next start is Olsztyn Triathlon in Poland (standard) during next weekend and my goal is to improve :)
I’ve got a special OD coming up on 10 August. Special because this organiser intentionally adds a 1km run before T1.
My goal is to finish it in under 3 hours.
30 km race cortina Dobbiaco run (Italy). Goal: sub 3h
I run the Amsterdam marathon and i hope to finiss in 6 Hours
Ironman Zurich 27th July. Base goal is as always to finish healthy, but would really like anything with 11.xx in the time.
Next is the Coniston Lakeland Trails Marathon in July
Chelmsford Marathon in the UK on October 19th is my next A race. I’m still not running whilst recovering from my last (and first!) marathon attempt, but fingers crossed I’ll be back on it soon!
Triathlon Olympic Distance World Championships in September, in Edmonton (Canada) is the next one on the list. My first shot at the title :-).
I’m aiming to join the “club de cingles” in July. Up the 3 paved routes of Ventoux in a day….